Police: Westwood Man Injures Cop, Sears Employee

A  officer separated his shoulder as he tried to make an arrest at the Dedham Mall Monday evening.

Officer Richard Cawley suffered the shoulder injury during a struggle with 51-year-old David Kern, of Westwood, who allegedly stole a knife and a MP3 player from , according to police reports.

Cawley, officer Keith Kennedy and officer Frank McMillan entangled with Kern outside of Sears, officer Scott Porro stated in his report. Kern also attempted to bite a Sears employee and injured his finger, police said.

Police said Kern resisted arrest and acted uncooperatively, forcing Cawley to use police-issued pepper spray to try to calm him down. Finally, Kern was handcuffed and transported back to the police station, reports stated.

Kern is charged with assault, shoplifting and resisting arrest.